Show News

Gareth Thomas from Watergate explains how smart water management can create additional revenue opportunities for installers.

For years, installers have sat at the centre of some of the biggest shifts in the built environment. From condensing boilers and smart thermostats to solar panels, EV chargers, and heat pumps, installers have consistently been the people turning new technology into real-world adoption.

Now another category is beginning to emerge – smart water management. And it could represent one of the most significant new commercial opportunities for installers over the next decade.

The UK is facing a growing water challenge. Demand for water is rising. Infrastructure is ageing. Water bills are increasing. Insurers are under pressure from the growing cost of escape of water claims. At the same time, commercial property owners and homeowners are becoming far more conscious of sustainability, efficiency, and risk prevention.

Yet despite this, water remains one of the least digitised utilities in buildings today. That is beginning to change.

Smart water management technology – including leak detection, automatic shut-off systems, usage analytics, and AI-powered monitoring – is rapidly moving from niche innovation to mainstream expectation.

Much like smart heating evolved over the last decade, connected water systems are now becoming part of the wider smart building ecosystem. For installers, that creates a significant opportunity.

Traditionally, plumbing revenue has often been reactive. A leak happens. A customer calls. Damage has already occurred. Smart water management changes that model.

Connected systems like Watergate Sonic can automatically detect abnormal water flow, alert customers to issues in real time, and shut off the water supply before major damage occurs. But importantly for installers, these systems also create ongoing visibility into property health.

That means installers are no longer just responding to emergencies. They can become proactive advisors helping customers:

● identify hidden leaks

● detect faulty appliances or toilets

● reduce water waste

● prevent frozen pipe incidents

● improve efficiency

● protect high-value properties

In practice, smart water management can generate:

● installation revenue

● maintenance opportunities

● remedial plumbing work

● upgrade projects

● recurring customer relationships

For smart home installers and M&E contractors, water also represents an entirely new category to integrate into connected buildings.

Lighting, heating, energy, and security have all seen major growth in smart controls. Water is the next logical step.

The smart home market continues to grow rapidly, and water management is expected to follow the same trajectory as connected heating and security technologies.

At Watergate, we are already seeing growing interest from:

● landlords

● build-to-rent operators

● insurers

● hospitality providers

● facilities managers

● commercial property owners

● utilities

All of these sectors are looking for ways to reduce water waste, lower costs, improve sustainability performance, and mitigate risk. That demand creates a growing pipeline of installation opportunities.

And unlike many traditional plumbing jobs, smart water systems also create ongoing engagement after installation through data, alerts, servicing, optimisation, and system expansion. For installers looking to future-proof their business, this matters.

There is often understandable concern whenever AI and automation enter a trade sector. But in reality, smart water technology does not replace skilled installers.

It enhances them. Technology can detect anomalies, monitor usage patterns, and identify potential problems earlier. But customers still need trusted professionals to interpret issues, carry out repairs, recommend improvements, and install systems correctly.

In many ways, AI-powered water monitoring acts like an early warning system for installers.

The result is:

● faster issue detection

● better customer outcomes

● reduced property damage

● more preventative maintenance

● stronger long-term customer relationships

The installers who embrace these technologies early are likely to gain a significant competitive advantage.

Several market forces are accelerating the adoption of smart water management:

● increasing water scarcity

● rising utility costs

● insurer pressure around escape of water claims

● net zero and ESG targets

● growth in smart buildings

● customer demand for preventative technology

As awareness grows, property owners will increasingly expect the same visibility and control over water that they already have with energy and security systems. The installer market will evolve alongside that demand.

To support this growing market, Watergate is launching its Certified Installer Programme at InstallerSHOW 2026.

The programme is designed to help plumbers, smart home installers, and M&E professionals build expertise in smart water management technology and unlock new commercial opportunities within the sector.

Certified installers will receive:

● product training

● installation guidance

● technical support

● marketing assets

● certification status

● access to future opportunities within the Watergate ecosystem

Our goal is simple: to help installers become leaders in one of the fastest-growing areas of smart building technology.

The role of installers is evolving. Customers increasingly want connected, preventative, intelligent systems that help them protect their homes, buildings, budgets, and sustainability goals.

Water management is becoming part of that future. The businesses that recognise this early will be best positioned to grow with the market.

We believe smart water management will become a major category over the coming years – and installers will be at the heart of that transformation.

Visit Watergate at InstallerSHOW 2026 to learn more about the Certified Watergate Installer Programme and the future of smart water management.

Watergate booth: 4J56 Watergate will also be part of The HAUS.